Aim-practicing apparatus



May 22, 1923. 1,456,191

W. G. PATERSON A IM PRACTI C I NG APPARATUS Filed Sent. 26, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Z jzffz'a n Gin/242172 192267152922 May 22, .1923.

W. G. PATERSON AIM PRACTICING APPARATUS Filed Sent. 26 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m U 6 f L6 ZflJ/dczzn 6719120122 fZzZersow.

Patented May 22, 1923.

WILLIAM GRAHAM PATERSON, F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE FLA SH GUN LIMITED, 01' GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

AIM-PRACTICING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 26, 1921. Serial No. 503,184.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM GRAHAM PATERSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, of Glasgow, Scotland, have in- 6 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Aim-Practicing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aim practicing apparatus of the general character in which a rifle, revolver or the like (hereinafter referred to as the gun) is movably mounted on a suitable stand or base for training upon. a distant target.

One object of my invention is to provide improved means for locking the gun in position when the trigger is actuated so as to enable the sight taken at the time of firing. to be critically observed thereafter by the marksman and others.

Another object f my invention is to provide combined means for locking the gun in position and for luminously spotting on the distant target the aim taken at the time the trigger is actuated to fire the gun.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the light for luminous- 1y spotting the aim taken at the time of firing the gun is automatically shut off after a predetermined interval while the gun remains locked in position until subsequently released arbitrarily.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel aim practicing apparatus, of the character stated, wherein the locking means andthe aim-spotting means are controlled by coin operated mechanism, the arrangement being such that a coin inserted into a suitable coin chute enables the release of the gun locking means and subsequently actuates the aim-spotting means when the gun is fired and locked in position.

In a preferred construction of my novel aim practicing apparatus, the gun is pivotally mounted for elevation and azimuthal movements and the locking means comprises serrated members capable of moving with the gun and adapted, on actuation of the trigger. to be engaged by knife edged projections, in a manner hereinafter described, to prevent such movements. The aim taken by the marksman is luminously spotted by means of an electric lamp and lens arranged in, or in connection with, the'gun, switch mechanism or the lamp circuit being operated automatically to light the lamp upon movement of the gun locking means but rendered inoperative independently thereof so as to cut off the light after a certain interval of time.

This form of the invent-ion is illustrated. by way of example, on the accompanying drawing to which reference will now be made, but it is to be understood that the invention as hereinafter described is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined by the succeeding claims. On the drawings Fig. 1 is an outside elevation of the apparatus shown with the lower part of the base broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view of the upper portion of the base and a portion of the gun, partly in elevation, partly in section and with parts omitted.

Fig. 3'is a corresponding plan showing the gun locking means in operative posi-' tion. F'ig et is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the locking means inoperative and the gun free to swivel. F 2 is a side elevation of a detail. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing the mecha- 85 nism which is housed within the base. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View of the base showing a top plan of the check control mechanism. Fig. 7 is part view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the operative position of the switch mechanism for the light.

Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation of a portion .of the gun releasing mechanism. Fig. 9 a corresponding plan of that part of the stand or base containing the coin receiving and releasing mechanism. Fig. 10 is a plan similar to Fig. 9 but showing the disposition of the parts with a coin inserted in the coin chute.

A indicates the gun having a depending 100 plate 1 pivoted at 2 between the cheeks of a bifurcated head piece 3 rotatable in azimuth on a stand or base B.

.As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and t, the under surface of the depending plate 1 is serrated 105 and is adapted to be engaged by a knife 7 edge 4 to lock the gun against elevation movements about the axis 2. The knlfe edge is adjustably carried by a block 5 held between'a pair of plates 6, 6, which 110 are pivoted at 7, between the cheeks of the bifurcated head piece 3. The plates 6, 6 are actuated by a spring sear bar 8, at-

tached to said head piece by means of a bracket 9. A'serrated extension 10 carried by arms 11, 11 forming part of the head piece 3, is normally engaged to lock the latter against azimuthal movement about its axis by a knife edge 12 formed on a vertically slidable bar 13 carried in a bracket 14 and pressed upwards by a spring 15 mounted on a rod 16 which is operable by a knob 17. The upper portion of the sear 8 is constrained forward by a spring 18 and has a cross piece 19 for actuating the plates 6, 6 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The gun is equipped with an electric lamp 46 and lens 47 the lamp being connected by leads 20, Figs. 5, 6 and 7, with a source of electric energy 21. The electric circuit through the lamp includes a pair of switch arms or contacts 22, 23, of which 23 is movable about a pivot 24 and is weighted so that it tends to occupy the position shown in Fig. 7, where.it contacts with a projection on the arm 22 and closes the circuit, but a lever 25, fulcrumed at 26 in a suitable frame 27, is weighted at 28 so that its one end engages and holds the switch arm 23 normally out of contact with the arm 22 to break the electric circuit. Rotatable in the frame 27 is a pulley 29 around which passes a cord 30 for attaching the weight 28 -to the lever 25. It will be apparent that when the free end of the lever is depressed its other end is raised to allow the contacts 22, 23 to. close and light the lamp so as to throw a spot of light on the object to which the gun is directed.

As clearly shown in'Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a coin chute 32 is provided in the upper wall of the base B and one arm of a lever 33, pivoted at 34, presses against one side thereof under the action of a spring-.35 mounted on a rod36 which rod is slidable in brackets 37, 37, and has its one end engaging the bar 13, to prevent the latter being operated. The outlet from the chute 32 is adapted to be closed by a guard plate 38 pivoted in brackets 39, 39. Attached to the guard 38 is a horizontal projection 40, to the underside of which Is secured a .small leaf spring projects into the path of movement of a lateral projecting arm 42 attached to and movable withthe bar 13. A spring 43 tends normally to act upon the guard plate 38 to hold it in a position to close the outlet from the chute and prevent any tampering bar 13 to cook and free the gun,

with the mechanism of the apparatus.

With this construction it will be manifest that during the downward movement of the bar 13, the projection 42, thereon engages the end of the spring 41, deflects and 41 (Fig. 2) one end of which spring.

pulled, the projection 42, will engage the spring 41, from the bottom thereof and will again trip' past the spring but in so doing the spring 41. engages the lower face of the guard 38and will thereby cause the guard plate 38. to be turned about its pivot and against the stress of the spring 43, so that a coin or check inserted in the chute 32, will be allowed to fall.

Normally the gun is locked against movement and the guard 38 closes the chute 32,

as shown in Fig. 5. The operation is then,

as follows I A coin placed in the slot 32 deflects horizontally the lever 33 against the action of 90 the spring 35 and withdraws the end of the rod 36 from engagement with the bar 13 (Fig. 10). The bar is then free to be pressed down, by the knob 17, against the action of the spring 15 to the position shown inFig. 4 so as to release the gun support or head piece 3 for movement in azimuth. When the rod 13 is pushed down in this manner the lower portion of the sear 8, which was previously constrained by the end of the bar, springs back into the path of the bar and prevents it returning; this movement of the sear also allows the plates 6, 6 to swing, under gravity, about the pivot 7 and withdraw the knife 4 thus freeing the gun for elevation movements. The gun is then ready for use.

'When, after sighting the gun, the trigger is pulled, the upper part of the sear 8 is forced back against the action of the spring 18 causing the lower part to move forward to release the bar 13 which returns imme diately to the normal posltion and locks the gun in azimuth. The inclined edge of the bar presses the sear 8 forward causing the cross piece 19 thereon to wipe against the upper surfaces of the plates 6, 6 moving them about their pivot 7 and bringing the knife edge 4 into engagement with the plate 1 to lock the gun in elevation. Thus the gun is locked securely in the position it occupies at the time of firing and the sight taken can be critically examined thereafter.

During the downward movement of the I the edge of the guard plate 38 is held wedged against the'bottom of the coin chute 32 ov er the slot therein by the action of the sprmg 43, and the projection 42 on the bar 13 will engage and snap past the spring 41 projecting from the guard plate, without moving the latter. I "on the return or upward movement of the bar 13, however, the projection 42 engages under the spring 41 and in tripping past said spring in the upward direction, rocks the p ate 38 momentarily about its pivot to move its edge away from the slot 32 of the coin chute and against the stress of the spring 43, so as to open the coin slot to allow the coin therein to fall. It drops into a pan 44 on the end of the lever which then over-balances and moves to the position shown in Fig. 7 to allow the switch comprising the contacts 22, 23, to close and light the lamp 46 so as to luminously spotthe aim taken on a distant object or target. I

Eventually the coin slides from the pan 44 into a receptacle and the lever 25 then returns to its original position breaking the electric'circuit and cutting off the light. This occurs after a definite interval of time determined by the swing of the weighted lever and, as the gun is locked during this movement, the marksman is able to move from the firing position in order to be better able to examine the result of his effort.

The invention is not limited to a coin freed machine, as'herein described, for, as will be apparent, the apparatus can be constructed in modified form without the coin freed mechanism.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Aim practicing apparatus comprising,

I in combination, a gun mounted for movement in a plurality of difi'erent planes, locking means for locking the gun against movement in each of said planes, each of said locking means embodying co-operating and interengaging elements, one of which elements of each locking means is movable with the gun, the other respective elements being carried by the gun mounting, and means responsive to the pulling of the trigger, to cause the respective said elements to interengage to lock the gun in position.

2. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination. a gun mounted for movement in a plurality of different planes, looking means for locking the gun against movement in each of said planes, each of said locking means embodying co-operating and interengaging elements, one of which elements of each locking means is movable with the gun. the other respective elements being carried by the gun mounting, means responsive to the pulling of the trigger, to cause the respective said elements to interengage to lock the gun in position, and means operated simultaneously with the trigger for luminously spotting the aim taken.

3. Aim practicing apparatus comprising,

in combination, a gun pivotally mounted for movements in elevation and azimuth, meansin combination, a gun pivotally mounted for movements in elevation and azimuth, means for locklng the gun against such movements and for luminously spotting the aim taken erated mechanism for means.

6. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a gun pivotally mounted for movements in elevation and azimuth, means for locking the gun against such movements and for luminously spotting the aim taken when the trigger is actuated, and coin operated mechanism for controlling said means and for rendering the aim spotting means inoperative after a predetermined interval while the gun remains locked in position.

7. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members movable with the gun, co-acting knife-edged projections carried by the gun mounting, and means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members, to lock the gun in position.

8. -Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members movable with the gun, co-acting knife-edged projections carried by the gun mounting, means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members to lock the gun in position, and means for disengaging said projections at will and simultaneously cooking the gun ready for use. J

9. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a base, a. head piece rota table in azimuth on said base, a gun pivoted for movements in elevation on the headpiece, a depending plate on the gun. a segmental member movable in azimuth with the head-piece, projections pivotally mountcontrolling said when the trigger is actuated, and coin oped on the head-piece for engaging the depending plate to lock the gun against movements in elevation, means slidable on the base for engaging the segmental member to lock the gun against movement in azimuth and for operating said pivotal projections,

and a spring actuated sear for maintaining said means inoperative until the gun trigger is pulled.

10. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members movable with the gun, coacting knife edged projections carried by the gun mounting, means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members to lock the gun in position, and means simultaneously operated for luminously spotting the aim taken on a distant object or target.

11. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members movable with the gun co-ac'ting knife edged projections carried by the gun mounting, means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members to lock the gun in position, means simultaneously operated for luminously spotting the aim taken on a distant object or target, and melzlins for disengaging said projections at w1 12f Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a base, a head piece rotatable in azimuth on said base, a gun pivoted for movements in elevation on the head-piece, a plate depending from the gun, a segmental member movable with the headpiece, projections pivotally mounted on the head-plece for engaging the depending plate to lock the gun against movements in elevation, means Within the base for engaging the segmental member to lock the gun against movement in azimuth and for operating said pivotal projections, a spring actuated sear for maintaining said means inoperative until released by the pulling of the gun trigger, and means simultane ously operated for luminously spotting the aim taken on a distant objector target.

13. Aim practicing apparatus, comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members m' ovable with the gun, co-acting knife edged projections carried by the .gun mounting, means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members to lock the gun in position, and coin operated mechanism for controlling said means.

14. Aim practicing apparatus comprising,

in combination, a movably mounted gun,-

serrated members movable with the gun, co-acting knife edged projections carried by the gun mounting, means operated when the trigger is pulled for moving said rojections into engagement with said mem ers to lock the gun in position, means for disengaging said projections and cooking the gun ready for use, and coin operated mechanism for controlling said last mentioned means.

15. Aim practicing apparatus, comprising in combination, a base, a head-piece rotatable in azimuth on said base, a gun pivoted for movements in elevation on the head-piece, a plate depending from the gun, a segmental member movable with the headpiece, projections pivotally mounted on the head-piece for engaging the depending plate to lock the gun against movements 1n elevation, means in the base for engaging the segmental member to lock the gun against movement in azimuth and for. operating said pivotal projections, coin operated mechanism for controlling said means, and a spring actuated sear for maintaining said means inoperative until the gun trigger is pulled.

16. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, serrated members movable with the gun, co-acting knife edged projections carried by the gun mounting, means operated when the gun trigger is pulled for moving said projections into engagement with said members to lock the gun in position, means simultaneously operated for luminously spotting the aim taken, and coin operated mechanism for controlling the aim spotting means.

17. Aim practicing apparatus, comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, electrical means operated when the trigger is actuated for luminously spotting the aim taken on a distant target, means simultaneously operated for locking the gun in position, and coin operated mechanism for controlling both the aforesaid means.

18. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, an electrical lamp and lens carried by the gun, switch mechanism operated when the trigger is pulled to light the lamp so as to spot the aim taken on a distant target, means also operated when the trigger is pulled to. lock the gun in position, and means controlling said switch mechanism to out off the light automatically and after a predetermined time interval.

19. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a movably mounted gun, an electrical lamp and lens carried by the gun, switch mechanism operated when the trigger is pulled to light the lamp so as to spot the aim taken on a distant target, and means also operated when the trigger is pulled to lock the gun in position, said last mentioned means comprising serrated members movable with the gun and coacting knife edged projections carried by the gun mounting and moved into engagement with said members when the trigger is pulled.

20. Aim practicing apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow base, a gun mounted thereon for movements in elevation and azimuth, electric light projecting means carried by the gun, means for locking the gun'in position when the trigger is pulled,

switch mechanism within the base and elevation and azimuth, a coin chute in the base, means for locking the gun when the trigger is pulled, means operated by a coin inserted in the coin chute for enabling the gun locking means to be freed, electric 18 light projecting means carried by the gun and means operated by the coin when the trigger is pulled to energize said light projecting means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 20 ture in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GRAHAM PATERSON.

Witnesses AGNES GILMOUR.

MARY GREEN. 

